When It Rains It Pours

The bad news just keeps on coming from the CTA.

The CTA tells riders to prepare for up to 2 1/2 years of extended delays (up to double travel times) on the North Side rail lines due to the Brown Line expansion project, which will cut capacity by up to 25 percent. (See also here and here) The next day Aldermen Ricardo Munoz and Joe Moore call for City Council hearings "into derailments, mechanical breakdowns and daily service delays that have made their constituents' lives miserable." (See also here) The alderman describe Chicago as having a "third world transit system" and accuse CTA President Frank Kruesi of "gross incompetence."

Recall that Joe Moore, the moving force behind the so-called big box living wage ordinance, was the victim of a big-time mayoral smackdown when Mayor Daley vetoed the ordinance, suggesting that its proponents were racists. Alderman Moore may feel that he has a score to settle with the Mayor, who defended Mr. Kruesi and the CTA's performance.

If that were not enough to end a bad week, a CTA train hit a teenager on the Orange Line. That could cost the CTA a few million dollars down the line.